College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007

COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY AND AFFORDABILITY ACT OF 2007 -- (House of Representatives - February 07, 2008)

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Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the expanded access to higher education that individuals with intellectual disabilities will have under the College Opportunity and Affordability Act being considered on the House floor today.

As many of my colleagues know, my son Alex, who just turned 14, has Down syndrome. As a student at J.L. Long Middle School in Dallas, Texas, Alex has made significant academic progress and received many of the same education opportunities as his peers as a result of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. While IDEA will provide invaluable education for Alex throughout his K-12 education, I also realize that IDEA will not be there to serve his needs after high school.

Currently, the education opportunities for most individuals with intellectual disabilities end with secondary school. Unfortunately, most remain unemployed and completely dependent.

As the parent of an individual with intellectual disabilities, I have worked to ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to the resources and opportunities to develop self-reliance and life skills, enabling them to achieve their potential and to contribute to our communities.

Mr. Chairman, in 2006, I authored legislative language to grant students with intellectual disabilities access to Federal work study funds for enrollment in comprehensive post-secondary education programs.

I am very pleased that the College Opportunity and Affordability Act not only includes my work study language, but it also builds on those efforts by providing access to Pell Grants and Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants. By providing access to Federal student aid, we will be empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities across our Nation to learn, develop, and achieve to the best of their abilities.

Additionally, I am pleased that this legislation will establish a model education demonstration for a comprehensive transition and post-secondary program for students with intellectual disabilities. By awarding competitive grants to higher education institutions, the development of this model demonstration will establish important first steps for the creation and expansion of additional transition and postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities across our Nation.

To ensure the integrity and success of these groundbreaking programs for students with intellectual disabilities, this legislation also authorizes a coordinating center that will provide technical assistance, evaluation, and recommendations for the development of accreditation standards.

Mr. Chairman, the establishment of these vital programs will represent a historic victory not only for individuals with intellectual disabilities, but also for their families and for the educators and advocates who have worked diligently to establish these post-secondary education opportunities.

In particular, I would like to recognize Stephanie Lee and Madeleine Will with the National Down Syndrome Society for their invaluable expertise and support to ensure that dreams of student aid and transitional education programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities become a reality.

Today, we can ensure that individuals with intellectual disabilities have access to the educational resources and opportunities that can enable them to lead a very fulfilling life.

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